Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Thursday it is canceling several international and domestic flights in response to changing global aviation conditions and a massive spike in jet fuel costs.
The Lucio Tan-led airline expressed its “sincere apologies for the potential disruption to travel plans” and emphasized that they are “working to minimize inconveniences while continuously reviewing routes for future resumption.”
Data from the International Air Transport Association show that jet fuel prices surged 118.8 percent to $197 per barrel as of March 20 compared to the previous year.
International suspensions include flights between Cebu and Guam starting April 16 and the Cebu to Ho Chi Minh City route effective April 19. PAL said that specific flights to Ho Chi Minh City on May 1, 3, 24 and 31 will remain operational despite the broader suspension.
Domestic services are also impacted, with flights from Clark to Siargao suspended beginning May 4. Services from Cebu to Ozamiz will stop May 5 and Cebu to Calbayog on May 6, with all suspensions remaining in effect until further notice.
The airline said passengers whose flights have been impacted by these changes have several recovery options available to them.
Travelers may choose to rebook by moving to an alternative route within 60 days in the same cabin class without facing any penalties. Alternatively, passengers can convert the value of their tickets into travel credits for future use or request a full refund in accordance with the airline’s standard policies.
To facilitate these changes, PAL said its customer service teams are assisting passengers through the official website, dedicated contact centers and physical ticket offices.
Cargo shipments on these specific routes are also affected, and PAL is collaborating with logistics partners to identify alternative routing solutions to ensure the movement of essential goods remains as seamless as possible.
The Civil Aeronautics Board authorized airlines to hike the fuel surcharge from Level 4 to Level 8 to offset rising costs. Under Level 8, the fuel surcharge for domestic flights ranges from P253 to P787 depending on the distance, while international surcharges range from P835.05 to P6,208.98.
